When putting your house on the market and working out its asking price, you’ll no doubt be considering the size and condition of the home both inside and out. But new research reveals that it’s not just the square footage of your home and garden that can affect house prices. Rightmove has discovered a surprising fact about the value of your garden when it comes to selling up.
South-facing gardens are often considered the ones to beat when looking for a new property, as it means you’ll enjoy the sunshine for longer.
But how important is the demand for a south-facing garden and how can it affect the value of your home?
Rightmove has crunched the numbers to see how the sought-after feature plays out in the nation’s house prices, with surprising results.
The property experts compared 400,000 listings of three and four bedroom homes across Great Britain to see whether a south-facing garden affected the asking price.
READ MORE: ‘Mortgage prisoners’ could be rescued in bid to change property rules
The study revealed that properties with south-facing gardens sell more quickly than those without, in almost all regions around Great Britain.
Interestingly though, the figures varied around the country, with some locations seeing a bigger price difference than others.
Properties in Yorkshire & the Humber with a south-facing garden cost a huge £35,000 more on average.
They were also the most popular when it came to selling fast, with homes finding a buyer on average eight days faster than usual.
The national average is two days faster, with eight out of 11 regions all finding buyers more quickly when they could boast a south-facing outdoor space.
Property expert Miles Shipside said: “Since the market reopened we’ve seen a huge rise in demand for homes with a garden as buyers place greater importance on outdoor space.
“For as long as I can remember, south-facing gardens have been viewed as the crème de la crème of outdoor spaces among home-hunters.
“It doesn’t mean your house will automatically be worth £22,000 more if it has a south-facing garden as this is an average, and it will also depend on the condition and location of your home, but it’s certainly something to shout about in a listing as it could mean your home makes it on to a buyer’s shortlist over another property down the road, or even on the other side of the street.”
The news may be disappointing for some as it’s not something you can change about your property – but the expert said there’s still plenty you can do if you’re trying to attract buyers.
“The key is to have the garden looking its very best for pictures and viewings. A quick lick of paint to a garden fence or shed helps, and it sounds simple but mowing the lawn and putting out a few garden chairs can give would-be buyers the chance to picture their new lifestyle.”
Homes with gardens are more in demand than ever according to the website too; Rightmove said searches had doubled in June compared to the same time last year.
Glynis Frew, chief executive of Hunters Estates Agents, commented: “South-facing gardens have always been desirable due to getting the most hours of sunlight in a day.
“With people spending more time at home now due to lockdown and the rise of flexible home working, it’s little surprise that a south-facing garden is more sought after to make the most of this. Green space and natural light have proven positive impacts on our mood and productivity.”